• Vlad Kaltenieks, CEO, BOYLE Sports- Kaltenieks has implemented a consumer-first strategy since his appointment in December 2022, placing huge emphasis on a technological focus. Kaltenieks is keen to embrace BOYLE Sports' rich history, with several horseracing partnerships announced in 2025 as a result. However, he is also keen to take the brand into the future, with a UK relaunch this year being headlined by a major new sponsorship of Premier League football club West Ham United.

• David Natroshvili, CEO & Founder, SPRIBE - David Natroshvili has transformed iGaming by creating Aviator, the crash game that defined a new vertical and has recently reached 60 million monthly players in 2025. His vision reshaped how operators attract and retain users while ensuring responsible play remains central. Beyond SPRIBE’s fast growth, he fulfilled a lifelong promise by funding scholarships at his alma mater, showing how true leadership is rooted in innovation and giving back.

• Jovana Popovic Canaki, CEO, iGP - Under the leadership of Jovana Popovic Canaki, iGP has transformed into one of the industry’s fastest-growing full-suite B2B providers. Since late 2024, she has driven 47% GGR growth and more than doubled the company’s total bets processed, while scaling iGaming Deck from 2,000 to over 10,000 games and surpassing 200 million monthly bets. Her strategic expansion into retail, crypto, and lottery has diversified the business and unlocked new global opportunities. Beyond the numbers, she has revitalised company culture and positioned iGP for long-term success.

• James Curwen, CEO, Yggdrasil - When James Curwen became CEO, Yggdrasil was in decline. In under 2 years he rebuilt 80% of staff, modernised the Phoenix platform on AWS, and launched Game in a Box™, the industry’s most disruptive innovation since HTML5. He set a bold vision: from supplier to tech disruptor with unicorn ambition. With courage, vision, and culture, Curwen transformed Yggdrasil into a genuine innovator defining the future of gaming.

• Marina Ostrovtsova, CEO, BGaming - Under Ostrovtsova’s leadership, BGaming achieved extraordinary growth in the past year: GGR rose 95%, bets increased 102%, and total bets surged 80%. She guided the company’s expansion into 10 new markets, partnering with 400 additional casinos. At the same time, she fostered internal growth, expanding the team from 120 to over 200 employees in 2024. Her vision and drive transformed BGaming into one of iGaming’s fastest-growing and most influential providers.

• Nadiya Attard, CCO, Elantil - With over two decades of high-level commercial and strategic leadership, Attard rapidly accelerated Elantil’s market momentum since her appointment as CCO in January 2025. Drawing on a proven track record at Betfair, Microgaming, NetEnt, and Relax Gaming - where she helped scale teams from 300 to 1,000 and elevate brands from startup to Tier-1 status - she has led Elantil’s commercial and marketing functions to secure five live operator clients and redefine its go-to-market strategy. Her focus on operator growth, new market execution, and brand visibility has placed Elantil firmly in the industry spotlight.

• Ebbe Groes, Co-CEO and Co-Founder, EveryMatrix - Since 2008, Groes has led EveryMatrix to record-breaking performance, cementing its status as the fastest-growing iGaming technology supplier. Under his leadership, the company delivered all-time-high results with €181m in net revenue (+59% YoY) and €101m EBITDA (+70% YoY), supported by strategic acquisitions including FSB Technology, Fantasma Games and Goma Gaming. Groes has also expanded the company’s social impact, launching a second NGO to support career opportunities for Ukrainian war veterans and two new TeachStream centres for underprivileged children.

• Jesper Svensson, CEO, Betsson Group - Jesper Svensson has led Betsson to record growth in EMEA, with €1.107bn revenue in 2024 and +34% EBIT in Q2 2025. Under his leadership, Betsson now operates in 24 regulated markets, unifying marketing under its flagship brand to maximise global sponsorships with leading clubs. Driving innovation with Techsson, Sporting Solutions, and new native apps, Svensson inspires 3,000+ employees while embedding ESG excellence and sustainable growth and setting new standards for the industry.

• Yoel Zuckerberg, Chief Product Officer, Soft2Bet - Zuckerberg has reshaped Soft2Bet’s competitive edge through visionary product launches such as MEGA, a fully integrated engagement engine transforming how operators attract and retain players. He has unified Soft2Bet’s ecosystem - sportsbook, casino, CMS, CRM, KYC/AML, and apps - into one powerful platform, driving major expansion across Europe and beyond and contributing to 46% revenue growth and +22% EBITDA. Under his direction, Soft2Bet launched high-performing brands across Sweden, Romania, Denmark, and Greece while delivering key innovations such as direct BankID integration in Sweden, AWS-powered infrastructure optimisation, and the MEGA Royal live casino. 

• Grainne Hurst, CEO, Betting & Gaming Council - Hurst has strengthened the BGC’s leadership role by driving a focused agenda around safer gambling, improved standards, and constructive engagement with government and regulators. She has addressed the needs of the BGC’s diverse membership amid rising taxes, tighter responsible gambling requirements and an increasingly hostile media landscape, while ensuring the organisation continues to champion evidence-based policy across the UK industry. Her public advocacy and commitment to progress showcase leadership that resonates across the entire sector.

• Vigen Badalyan, Co-Founder, SoftConstruct - An entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience, Badalyan has built multiple tech brands across gambling, web development, data processing and cryptocurrency, helping shape SoftConstruct’s diverse and innovation-led ecosystem. He has transformed the company into one of the most influential global technology groups in iGaming. His long-term vision, product ambition and commitment to scalable, high-quality technology continue to drive SoftConstruct’s international growth and industry impact.

• Sacha Dragic, Founder & CEO, Superbet Group - Sacha Dragic returned to Superbet’s executive leadership in 2024 after five years on the board, bringing renewed momentum to one of Europe’s fastest-growing betting and gaming groups. His comeback has been described as game-changing, accelerating Superbet’s push into its next phase of digital expansion, market growth and product innovation. His entrepreneurial vision, strategic discipline and ability to scale high-performance teams continue to set Superbet apart as a major force in the gaming industry across Central and Eastern Europe, and in Brazil.

• Simon Thomas, Executive Chairman, The Hippodrome Casino - Simon Thomas has continued to elevate the Hippodrome’s status as London’s landmark entertainment destination, showcasing how innovation and responsibility can coexist. In a milestone year, the Hippodrome expanded its slot offering in line with the new legislation, opened a state-of-the-art sportsbook in partnership with Paddy Power, and celebrated the millionth guest of its long-running Magic Mike Live show. Thomas was also appointed to UNLV’s inaugural IGI Executive Director’s Advisory Board underscoring his standing as a respected leader shaping the future of global gaming.

• Lara Falzon, CEO (B2B Brands), Yolo Group - Falzon brought more than a decade of Tier 1 leadership experience to Yolo Group at a pivotal moment of international expansion. Since joining in 2025, she has taken steps to strengthen the group’s global growth strategy across Hub88, Live88, Odds88 and OneTouch, driving new technology investments, securing vendor licences in the UAE, and unlocking fresh opportunities across online casino, sports betting and emerging markets. Her strategic vision and operational discipline position her as a transformative leader shaping Yolo Group’s momentum in the B2B space.

• George Daskalakis, Co-Founder & CEO, Kaizen Gaming - Daskalakis has led Betano’s rise into one of the world’s fastest-growing and most recognisable gaming brands, setting new benchmarks for product excellence and international expansion. Under his leadership, the company has strengthened its footprint across Europe, Latin America and Africa, driven by focus on customer experience, responsible innovation and market-leading technology. His vision, discipline and ability to scale a home-grown brand into a global powerhouse underscore his impact as one of the industry’s most influential executives.

• Axel Hefer, CEO, Tipico - Hefer has led a transformative year for Tipico marked by major strategic moves that strengthened the company’s position as a leading force in European sports betting. Under his leadership, Tipico acquired Novomatic’s Admiral Austria business and entered a landmark partnership with Banijay Group, which took a majority stake in Tipico to unite Betclic and Tipico under one expanded European platform. His focus on scale, technology investment and customer-centric innovation has created the foundation for accelerated growth and lasting value across all markets Tipico serves.

• Robert Chvátal, Group CEO, Allwyn - With an ability to drive bold M&A, scale digital growth and modernise operations across key markets, Chvátal has led Allwyn through a year of exceptional strategic expansion, strengthening its position as one of the world’s most influential lottery and gaming groups. In the past months alone, under his leadership, Allwyn announced a landmark plan to combine with OPAP in a move that will create a €16bn business, agreed to acquire a majority stake in PrizePicks, secured a 51% stake in Novibet, completed the acquisition of the remaining minority share in Stoiximan, and sold its land-based casino assets in Germany and Australia.

• Helen Walton, CCO & Founder, G.Games - Over the past decade, Walton grew G.Games from a bold idea to a global company with a portfolio of more than 200 titles. She champions a studio culture built on risk-taking, experimentation and breakthrough ideas - including the development of true multiplayer slots, one of the company’s most significant innovations. Beyond her product vision, Walton breathes inspiration into the sector through thought-leading talks, a uniquely engaging presence and her commitment to spotlighting colleagues across social channels, bringing a needed human touch to the iGaming conversation.

• Eva Berkova, COO, Betby - Berkova has been a key driver of Betby’s expansion since joining in 2019, bringing leadership experience from the financial sector across HR, marketing and IT to support Betby’s growth in new European markets. Strong acceleration of Betby’s sportsbook solution and esports platform in the first half of 2025 demonstrated the continued value of her experience, with an overall 472% year-on-year GGR growth. Berkova’s careful operational leadership has also balanced progress in product and commercial reach.

• Werner Becher, CEO, Kambi - Since joining the company in mid-2024, Becher has been integral in pushing Kambi into a new chapter of business development and evolution, bringing senior experience across both B2B and B2C sports betting along with a strong entrepreneurial mindset. Under his leadership, in Q3 ‘25 alone, Kambi signed numerous Turnkey Sportsbook partnerships, agreed four Odds Feed+ deals, including with major European operator Superbet Group and acquired OMEGA Systems’ PAM source code, unlocking Turnkey Sportsbook opportunities in Nevada. 

• Stéphane Pallez, CEO and Chairwoman, FDJ United - Pallez has led FDJ through a decade of transformation, guiding its evolution from a former state-owned operator into a major European gaming group. Under her leadership, FDJ has strengthened its identity with the rebrand to FDJ United, advanced its growth through strategic acquisitions including Kindred, Premier Lotteries Ireland and ZEturn, and navigated rising regulatory and taxation pressures with resilience and clarity. Her long-term vision is reflected in the Play Forward 2028 strategy and reinforced by strong financial momentum, including a 29% YoY revenue increase in Q3, underscoring her exceptional leadership.

• Anna Johnson, CEO, Svenska Spel - Johnson, who took on the CEO role in 2024, has guided Svenska Spel through a significant phase of transformation, which included the reorganisation of the Casino Cosmopol and Vegas Slot units. Under her leadership, the company launched Föreningsdrömmen Gotland, a new annual fund distributing SEK 1m to local sports clubs to help more children and young people access the joy and community of sport, reflecting her commitment to giving back. Her purpose-driven approach is further evident in Svenska Spel’s strong quarterly performance, marked by major prize payouts, elite sports scholarships and research grants - all underscoring her focus on positive societal impact throughout the group’s change journey.

• Christopher Coyne, Co-Founder & CEO, 888AFRICA - Coyne built 888AFRICA from the ground up as a locally rooted operator. Under his leadership, the company launched a mobile-native platform optimised for low-data environments, expanded through the strategic acquisition of BetLion, and empowered local country managers with full operational and P&L control - ensuring true market-by-market expertise. In under two years, the business surpassed one million users and reached profitability in several markets, driven by Coyne’s focus on customer lifetime value, smart localisation and sustainable, data-led growth.

• Robeson Reeves, CEO, Intralot - Reeves played a pivotal role in the landmark €2.7bn transaction in 2025 that united Bally’s International Interactive with Intralot’s global lottery and gaming operations, creating one of the largest listed gaming groups on the Athens Stock Exchange. A 20-year executive of Gamesys Group and Bally’s Interactive, he now leads the newly combined iGaming and lottery giant with ambitions to expand across global regulated markets. Under his guidance, the business is expected to generate €1.1bn in annual revenue with EBITDA margins above 39%.

• Vardges Vardanyan, Founder, Digitain Group - Digitain Group Founder Vardges Vardanyan has cemented his industry legacy over the past 12 months, both promoting from within and hiring externally as he oversees the growth of Digitain's C-suite. For the group, there was expansion in Europe with a new Belgian licence and a sportsbook partnership with 888 Romania, while it was also granted Associate Membership by the European Lotteries. In the decades since founding Digitain, Vardanyan has seen a raft of change within gaming – but his ability to keep up with that change has always held his organisation in good stead. 

The Executive of the Year award is sponsored by Interblock: Interblock is a global leader in luxury electronic table gaming products, with over 30 years of innovation and craftsmanship. The company is known for delivering exceptional gaming experiences by combining advanced product designs with reliable technical support. Trusted by casino operators in more than 250 jurisdictions, Interblock is committed to creating immersive experiences that blend technology and entertainment. With a focus on excellence in every aspect, Interblock continues to set industry standards and enhance the global gaming landscape.